Cuisine of the Maritimes facts for kids

The Maritimes region of Canada is a special place in Eastern Canada. It includes three provinces: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. This area is right on the Atlantic coast. The Maritimes have many unique foods. Some of these foods have been eaten by the local Indigenous peoples for a long time. Other foods have come from different cultures over the years.

Tasty Foods and Dishes

The Maritimes are known for many delicious foods. Here are some of the most popular ones:

Acadian Specialties

• Poutine râpée is an Acadian dish. It is made with pork and potatoes.
• Rapée/rapie pie is another Acadian dish. This one uses poultry, like chicken or turkey.

Seafood Delights

Seafood is very important in the Maritimes. People prepare it in many different ways.

• Lobster rolls are common in New Brunswick. They are a favorite local dish. You can also find them in Maine, USA, which is next to New Brunswick. New Brunswick is the only Canadian province with both French and English as official languages.

Unique Snacks

• Dulse is a type of seaweed. It grows along the coasts of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Some Maritimers eat dried dulse as a snack. It is reddish-purple to black and tastes salty, like potato chips.
• The Dulse, Lettuce and Tomato (DLT) sandwich is a special dish. You can find it at the historic Saint John City Market.

Potato Power

Potatoes are a main crop in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. They are a big part of Maritime cooking.

• Hash Brown Casserole is a popular breakfast dish. It is made with potatoes, cheese, and cream.
• Potato pancakes are also popular for breakfast. They are similar to Irish Boxty.

Sweet Treats

• Maple sugar is a very important sweet in Eastern Canada. It comes in many forms, from maple syrup to crunchy candies.
• Many people enjoy "sugaring-off" trips in winter. This is when hot maple syrup is poured onto snow. It crystallizes into a tasty treat. Maple products are also an important export for the region.

Ice Cream Fun

• Cow's Ice Cream is a special brand found only on Prince Edward Island. Dairy products are important to people in the Maritimes.
• Grape nut ice cream is a popular flavor in the Maritimes. You can also find it in New England.
• Moon Mist ice cream is another unique Maritime treat. It mixes banana, grape, and bubblegum ice cream flavors.

Blueberry Goodness

Wild blueberries grow everywhere in the Maritimes. They are often picked, even though they are small.

• They can be made into a dessert called blueberry grunt. This is an Acadian dumpling dessert.

Other Local Favorites

• Hodge Podge or Hodegy Podegy is a widely eaten dish in Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley. It is a stew or soup with fresh vegetables. These include baby potatoes, peas, green beans, wax beans, and carrots. They are cooked in a milk broth with butter, pepper, and salt. It is often eaten with corned beef. Hodge Podge is usually enjoyed in July and August when these vegetables are in season.
• Meat pie and donair are also common Maritime foods.
• Mustard pickles are a regional favorite. They are sometimes called "Lady Ashburnham" pickles. They are sold at local stores and farmer's markets. People often eat them at Thanksgiving or Christmas dinners.

Restaurants and Pubs

Many restaurants and pubs in the Maritimes offer British and Irish dishes. These include:

• Corned beef and cabbage
• Bacon and cabbage
• Bangers and mash
• Fish and chips
• They also have their own special dishes, like Jiggs dinner.

Maritime Specialties

• Donair and garlic fingers are Maritime specialties. They can be hard to find in other parts of Canada.

Local Breweries

The Maritimes have many small craft breweries. There are also larger, well-known breweries:

• Nova Scotia's Alexander Keith's was started in 1820.
• The Moosehead Brewery in New Brunswick began in 1867. It is still owned by the Oland family in Saint John.

Categories

• Food and drink
• Snack foods